Alternating valve



June 1, 1965 G, ZWEIG Em 3,186,435

ALTERNATING VALVE Filed April 23, 1963 l gwn-n f v Y w 5 44 ,ef 15a M.,

United States Patent O 3,186,435 ALTERNATING VALVE Gilbert Zweig, Irvington, NY., and Charles R. Kershaw, Broomall, Pa., assignors to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 275,135 9 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.159)

This invention relates generally to valves, and more particularly to valves of the rotary type for dispensing or applying iluid through multiple outlets. While not limited thereto, the invention finds special application as a control valve in a sheet feeding mechanism for holding or releasing sheets of material at the top or end of a stack in a manner somewhat similar to the control valve disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,041,067, issued in the names of Aime Fux and Donald E. Kaplan, entitled Pneumatic Sheet Folding Mechanism, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve for dispensing or applying iiuid alternately through multiple outlets.

Another object of the invention lis to provide a valve for dispensing fluid alternately through multiple outlets in response to unidirectional motion applied to a movable element of the valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alternating valve operable by unidirectional rotational movement of a rotatable valve member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastacting alternating valve which may be actuated rotationally to perform its alternations with the least possible movement of its rotatable element.

In accordance with the above abjectives and considered lirst in its broad aspects, the invention utilizes a housing provided with inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a rotary valve member provided with passages, and a third valve member also provided with passages for establishing communication between the 4inlet ports, the rotary valve passages and the outlet ports. In the operation of the invention, communication is established alternately, lirst, by a lpair of rotary valve passages which communicate simultaneously in the rotation of the rotary valve with one of the inlet ports and its associated outlet port and, upon further rotation of the rotary valve, a pair of the rotary valve passages communicate simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port.

The invention will be more clearly understood when the following detailed description of the preferred em- `bodiment thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is an isometric view of an assembled alternating valve constructed in accordance with the invention, `and showing it attached to a member of associated apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an exploded or separated view of the valve shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of FIG, 2; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the valve in two conditions in its operation.

Turning now to the detailed description of the illustrated embodiment, and first with reference to FIG. 2 in the drawings, the alternating valve shown comprises a valve housing 10, a valve post member 12, and a sleeve valve 14, all constructed to be assembled telescopically, one within the other, as will be explained more clearly hereinafter. The valve housing 10 comprises a cylinder 16 having an axial cylindrical opening 18 extending therethrough,

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and a shallow counterbore 20 at one end of the cylinder. Two sets or columns of inlet ports 22 and 24 respectively (FIG. 3), are drilled or otherwise formed radially through the wall of the cylinder 16 to communicate with the cylindrical opening 18 at their inner ends. The outer ends of the ports Z2 and 24 communicate respectively with elongated channel ports 26 and 28 formed -in the Wall of the cylinder 16. In one mode of construction, the channel ports 26 and 28 may be machined, as by end-milling radially and longitudinally int-o the wall of the cylinder 16, and then the outer portion thereof sealed, as by elongated plugs 30 and 32.

Fittings 34 and 36 are threaded into tapped holes in the plugged regions of the cylinder 16, and are provided with axial openings 37 therethrough, only one of which is shown, for establishing communication of the channel ports 25 and 28 respectively, with sources of uid, not shown, by means of demountable conduits 38 and 49.

The cylinder 16 is provided with two columns or rows of outlet ports 42 and 44, which communicate at their inner ends with the cylindrical opening 18, and similarly at their outer ends with elongated channel ports 46 and 4S respectively. In the particular embodiment shown, the channel ports 46 and 48 open out into a flat work-engaging face S0 which is positioned against or adjacent a stack of sheet material, discussed earlier, in connection with the use of the valve as a control valve in sheet feeding. However, the outlet 'ports 42 and 44, or their corresponding channel ports 46 and 48, may open out on any particular type of working face, other than iiat, depending upon the application of the valve.

A valve post member 12 (FIG. 2) includes a ange 52 provided with a counterbore 54 into which a shoulder 56 (FIG. 3) or" the cylinder 16 tits when the valve is in the assembled condition. The iiange 52 is provided with a series of holes S8 through which screws 60 project for threading into tapped holes, not shown, in the cylinder 16 for assembling the valve post member 12 to the cylinder. The screws 6) may also serve for fastening the valve assembly to an associated apparatus as by passing through holes, not shown, in an attachment member 62 (FIG. l) of such apparatus, before they are threaded into the cylinder 16. A valve post 64 (FIG. 2) extends from the flange 52 and is provided with two elongated slots or passages 66 and 68, which open out at both their ends on the peripheral surface of the post 64.

The sleeve valve 14 includes a tubular sleeve 70, formed with a series of elongated slots or passages 72, equally spaced around the periphery of the sleeve and extending radially through the wall of the sleeve, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. A flange 74 (FIG. 2) at the upper end of the tubular sleeve 70 is dimensioned to lit in the counterbore 20 of the cylinder 16 and serves to position the sleeve valve 14 axially in the cylinder. Projecting from the llange 74 is the driven side of a clutch 76, the driving side of which, not shown, engages in the clutch notches 78 and forms part of a source of power for applying rotation to the sleeve valve 14, in a manner to be described.

The cylinder 16, valve post member 12, and sleeve valve 14 iit together concentrically so that the sleeve 70 ts rotatably in the cylindrical opening 18, and the inside diameter of the sleeve 7G ts rotatably over the diameter of the valve post 64, as may be perceived most clearly from an inspection of FIGS. 4 and 5. In the assembled condition, the sleeve valve 14 is retained axially in its proper position in the cylinder 16 by the driving side of the clutch, with the ilange 74 bearing against the bottom face Si) of the oounterbore 20.

With uid applied to the conduits 38 and 46, the sleeve valve 14 is rotated during operation, and this rotation may be clockwise or counterclocltwise, as desired. In one condition of rotation, for example clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, a pair of passages 72 has aligned respectively with the row of inlet ports 24, the row of outlet Iports 44, and the ends of the passage 68. In this condition the passage 66 is not in communication with any passage or port. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the angle between the inlet ports 24 and the outlet ports 44 corresponds to the angular spacing between the endmost of three adjacent passages '72. and is less than the angler between the inlet ports 22 and their associated outlet ports 42.

Upon further rotation of the sleeve valve ld, the pair of passages 72 will move out of registry with the inlet ports 24, outlet ports 4d, and passage 68, and another Ipair of passages 72 will register respectively with the alternate `group of inlet ports 22, their associated outlet ports 42, and the ends of the passage 66, as shown in FIG. 5. ln this condition of rotation, it will be seen more clearly that the angular distance between the inlet ports Z2 and outlet ports 42 is equal to the angular distance between the endmost of four adjacent passages '72. Also, the angular distance between the inlet ports 22 and the outlet ports 4?, is greater by at least the angular dis- 'tance between two adjacent passages '72 than the angular distance between the inlet ports 24 and their associated outlet ports 44.

It will now be clearly seen from the foregoing discussion that when the sleeve valve ld is rotated, fluid will he applied alternately to the outlet ports 42 and 4&4, and that such alternations will taire place with a very small rotational movement of the sleeve Valve 14, which in the present embodiment, is equal to half the angular distance between adjacent passages 72.

'It is understood that the designation inlet ports to the ports 22 and 24, and outlet ports to the ports 42 and 44, is not limiting but descriptive only, since the direction of application of fluid may be as desired through the respective conduits 38 and dil. For example, in using the illustrated valve as a control valve for holding or releasing sheets of material at the top of a stack, compressed air was applied continuously tothe conduit 33, and vacuum pressure was applied continuously to the conduit 40. When the valve was in the condition shown in FIG. 4, the top sheet of the stack of sheets S, indicated by a broken line, was prevented from being separated from the stack by the force of suction applied through the outlet ports 4d, and when the sleeve valve ldwas rotated to a position such as that shown in PEG. 5, the suction was thereby cut off from the outlet ports 44 t0 thereby release the sheet, and a blast of compressed air applied through the outlet ports 42, thus breaking the static friction between the sheet and the sheet-engaging face E@ of the valve and thereby permitting the sheet to be sepa-rated very rapidly from the stack.

While there has been shown and described a specific structure exemplary of the principles of the invention, it is understood that this is but one embodiment thereof and that the invention is capable of being constructed in a variety of shapes, sizes and modifications without departing from its true spirit and scope. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific structure disclosed, but only by the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An alternating valve comprising, a housing provided with an axial bore, said housing having first and second inlet ports and an outlet port for each inlet port, all extending radially through the wall of the housing into communication with said axial bore and angularly spaced one from another, a sleeve valve rotatably mounted in said axial bore and having circumferentially and equally angularly spaced passages normally disconnected when in an inoperative position from said inlet and outlet ports and which, uponrotation of the sleeve valve, communicate in succession with each inlet port and each outlet port, a first pair of said sleeve valve passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the sleeve valve with said first inlet port and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said sleeve valve passages communicating simultaneously with said second inlet port and its associated outlet port, the angular spacing between the first inlet port and its associated outlet port being less than the angular spacing between the second inlet port and its associated outlet port and being equal to the angular spacing between said :first pair of sleeve valve passages, and a circular post fixed to the housing and concentrically arranged in the bore of said sleeve valve, said circular post having two passages each establishing cornmunicati-on between the sleeve valve passages in one of said pairs of passages when such pair of sleeve valve passages is in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

2. An alternating valve comprising, a housing provided with a cylindrical opening extending therethrough, said housing having a first and second inlet ports and an outlet port for each inlet port, all extending radially through the wall of the housing into communication with said cylindrical opening and angularly spaced one from another, a valve rotatably mounted in said cylindrical opening and having peripheral angularly spaced passages which, upon rotationy of the valve, communicate in succession with each inlet port and each outlet port, a first pair of said valve passages communicating simultaneous ly in the rotation of the valve with said first inlet port and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said valve passages communicating simultaneously with said second inlet port and its associated outlet port, the angular spacing between the first inlet port and its associated outlet port being less than the angular spacing between the second inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular member fixed to the housing and concentrically arranged in said cylindrical opening, said circular member having two passages each establishing communication between the valve passages in one of said pairs Iof passages when such pair of valve passages is in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

3. An alternating valve comprising, a housing provided with an axial bore, said housing having first and second inlet ports and an outlet port for each inlet port, all extending radially through the Wall of the housing into communication withvsaid axial bore and angularly spaced one from another, a sleeve valve rotatably mounted in said axial bore and having peripheral angularly spaced passages which, upon rotation of the sleeve valve, communicate with each inlet port and each outlet port, a pair of said sleeve valve passages communicating simu1taneously in the rotation of the sleeve valve with said first inlet port and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a pair of said sleeve valve passages communicating simultaneously with said second inlet port and its associated outlet port, the angular spacing between the first inlet port and its associated outlet port being less than the angular spacing between the second inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular post fixed to the housing and concentrically arranged in the bore of said sleeve valve, said circular post having passage means establishing communication between the sleeve valve passages in each of said pairs of passages whenever the respective pair of sleeve valve passages is in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

4. An alternating valve comprising, a housing having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a rotatable sleeve valve having circumferential passages angularly spaced which communicate in succession in the rotation of the rotatable sleeve valve with each inlet port and each outlet port, a first pair of said circumferential passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the rotatable sleeve valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said circumferential passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular valve post concentrically in the interior of the rotatable sleeve valve and provided with two passages each establishing communication between the circumferential passages in one of said pairs of circumferential passages which is at a particular time in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

5. An alternating valve comprising, a housing having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a rotatable valve having circumferential passages angularly spaced which communicate in succession in the rotation of the rotatable valve with each inlet port and each outlet port, a irst pair of said circumferential passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the rotatable valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said circumferential passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular valve member fixed to the housing concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotatable valve and provided with two passages each establishing communciation between the circumferential passages in one of said pairs of circumferential passages which is at a particular time in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

6. An alternating valve comprising, a housing having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a rotatable sleeve valve having radially extending passages angularly spaced which communicate in the rotation of the rotatable sleeve with each inlet port and each outlet port, a rst pair of said radially extending passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation yof the rotatable sleeve valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said radially extending passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular valve member concentrically in the interior of the rotatable sleeve valve and provided with passage means establishing communication between the radially extending passages in each of said pairs of radially extending passages wherever the respective pair of radially extending passages is in communication with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port.

7. An alternating valve comprising, a housing provided with a cylindrical opening extending therethrough and having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port extending radially through the wall of the housing into communication with said cylindrical opening, a rotary valve rotatably fitted in the cylindrical opening and provided with passages angularly spaced relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary Valve, a irst pair of said passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the rotary valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and cylindrical post fixed to the housing concentrically in said cylindrical opening and provided with passages opening on its periphery and establishing communication between the passages in each of said pairs of passages whenever the respective pair of passages is in communication with an inlet port and its associated outlet port.

8. An alternating valve comprising, a housing provided with a circular opening and having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a valve rotatably mounted in said circular opening and provided with passages angularly spaced relative to the axis of rotation of the valve, a rst pair of said passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a circular member fixed to the housing concentrically in said circular opening and provided with passage means establishing communication between the passages in each of said pairs of passages whenever the respective pair of passages is in communication with an inlet port and its associated outlet port.

9. An alternating valve comprising, a housing having inlet ports and an outlet port associated with each inlet port, a rotary valve mounted in the housing and provided with passages angularly spaced relative to the axis of the rotary valve, a first pair of said passages communicating simultaneously in the rotation of the rotary valve with one of said inlet ports and its associated outlet port and upon further rotation thereof a second pair of said passages communicating simultaneously with another inlet port and its associated outlet port, and a member xed to the housing and provided with passage means establishing communication between the passages in each of said pairs of passages whenever the respective pair of passages is in communication with an inlet port and its associated outlet port.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 452,695 5/ 91 Delee 137--625.47 1,657,412 l/28 Schneider 137-625.47 X 2,186,657 l/40 Saussure 137 625.ll X

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,186,435 June 1, 1965 Gilbert Zweig et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corres ted below Column 1, line 18, for "Folding" read Feeding line 34, for "abjectives" read objectives column 5, line 36, after "sleeve" insert Valve Signed and sealed this 26th day of October 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

6. AN ALTERNATING VALVE COMPRISING, A HOUSING HAVING INLET PORTS AND AN OUTLET PORT ASSOCIATED WITH EACH INLET PORT, A ROTATABLE SLEEVE VALVE HAVING RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES ANGULARLY SPACED WHICH COMMUNICATE IN THE ROTATION OF THE ROTATABLE SLEEVE WITH EACH INLET PORT AND EACH OUTLET PORT, A FIRST PAIR OF SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES COMMUNICATING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE ROTATION OF THE ROTATABLE SLEEVE VALVE WITH ONE OF SAID INLET PORTS AND ITS ASSOCIATED OUTLET PORT AND UPON FURTHER ROTATION THEREOF A SECOND PAIR OF SAID RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES COMMUNICATING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ANOTHER INLET PORT AND ITS ASSOCIATED OUTLET PORT, AND A CIRCULAR VALVE MEMBER CONCENTRICALLY IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ROTATABLE SLEEVE VALVE AND PROVIDED WITH PASSAGE MEANS ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES IN EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES WHEREVER THE RESPECTIVE PAIR OF RADIALLY EXTENDING PASSAGES IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE OF SAID INLET PORTS AND ITS ASSOCIATED OUTLET PORT. 